Here are 12 more valuable Lincoln pennies that you should definitely check for if you happen upon a very old penny. Condition is one of the subtle steps affecting penny values. While the front of the 1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent looks perfectly ordinary, the back might have a particularly lucrative error. As a collector, you eventually reach the point where you need to purchase your coins from a coin dealer or at auction to achieve the quality you want. 1943 copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, $45,000 A Philadelphia Mint version of the 1943 copper penny may not be worth quite as much as a San Francisco Mint or Denver Mint example in Extremely Fine grade on the Sheldon Grading Scale, but its a rare coin nevertheless. Some error coins in this collection (not just the Connecticut quarter) were either broadstruck meaning they were struck outside of the retaining collar of the coin or double or triple stamped. One example circulated for a while before being picked up by a collector. Our most valuable pennies list includes coins starting in 1856 up to the present (2023) - including rare penny errors and rare varieties that could still actually be found in pocket change. It is the most valuable Lincoln penny in the world. This penny is the undisputed "King" of Canadian Pennies! Condition is judged comparing to images, video and descriptions. Though you're less likely to come across these highly prized pennies in your pocket change, the following are the most valuable Lincoln, Indian-Head, and Wheat Penny cents, as well as the most expensive pennies of all time. These copper coins date back to the beginnings of the mint. Auction record: $6,000 Heritage Auctions. PCGS offers a coin price guide where you can search for the current value of collectible coins. On the surface, there is nothing visually spectacular about this coin. A short series, serving a specific demand at the time, minted 1864 to 1873. Series are identified along with dates and mintmarks. $18,872,250. An uncirculated example in its original mint state red color is extremely rare and valuable. 1983 P Washington Quarter. Estimated coin prices and values in our database are updated twice per year. Many citizens hoarded gold, silver, and copper coins as a store of wealth. Large cents with pleasing surfaces, lacking deep marks are somewhat elusive and special coins. Additionally, it has been sufficiently well preserved to retain its original bright red-copper color. Though theyre a fun find, these coins arent that valuable you can buy one on ebay starting at about $6. The 1999 Connecticut Quarter is the fifth design released in the 50 States quarter collection. One variety had a widely spaced "AM" in the word "America.". In the French-speaking parts of Canada, the coin is sometimes called a black cent (cenne noire) or black penny (sou noir). Their demand is supporting strong values, high condition examples are avidly sought. Professional Coin Grading Serviceoffers a coin price guide where you can search for the current value of collectible coins. Coins in this condition are few and far between and are truly treasures to behold. While the Secret Service was trying to recover as many fakes as possible, they discovered several authentic 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cents, which they initially believed were fake and destroyed increasing the rarity of the already rare coins. You're likely to be offered a small fraction of what they're worth.. "I've found one myself.". Initially, the government believed that these were counterfeit coins and began confiscating them. To hold an 1877 Indian Head Penny in uncirculated condition is an extreme rarity given the poor economic conditions of that year. The difference with looking through rolls of pennies is that Im looking at many more coins that way than I ever would through my cash transactions alone. The coppery color of modern-day pennies is merely a thin plating of copper on a 99.2% zinc, 0.8% copper core. Sold: January 2008; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Coin Auction. Here's a rundown of 10 of the most expensive pennies made since 1900: 1. The story behind copper 1943 Lincoln Pennies is presumed to be a pure accident at the U.S. Mint perhaps a few leftover copper planchets from 1942 were stuck in the coining press system and struck with 1943 penny dies. Note: Images within blue borders are Links to the Penny Values series. Your email address will not be published. You can also find pennies from the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s and . Bucki estimates that at least 250,000 coins released with the doubled die. The odds are long, but they're still well worth searching for. Separate your old wheat pennies into the main value groups - different decades, mintmarks, rare dates and importantly condition. Copyright 2007-2023 Daniel A. HarrisAll Rights Reserved. If you are investing money in rare pennies, buy coins that are in the best condition you can afford, and always focus on purchasing coins that display original color and are in nice shape overall. If it sticks, the coin you have is made of steel and holds a lower value, though steel 1943 pennies that maintain their gray color are still worth a pretty penny and have sold for as much as $218,500 at auction. Also, in the 1930s and 40s, most coin collectors acquired their coins from circulation, so it is not hard to find a circulated example of a 1926-S Lincoln penny. Mint State Grade: A coin with no wear to the surface is considered Mint State grade. You never know, one of your pennies could be worth the price of a nice dinner or a whole lot more. Because not many of these pennies were minted, proof coins of either variety are valuable. Im the Coin Editor here at TheFunTimesGuide. Real People. A doubled die coin of any era is usually pretty scarce to begin with, but an Indian Head cent is scarcer still. Keep coin roll hunting and a. While 484,000 were struck, several population estimates suggest only 50,000 to 100,000 may still exist a fairly large number indeed, but much lower than mintage numbers suggest. 1922 No D plain Lincoln Wheat Penny, $2,050 Repairs to a damaged coin die left the 1922-D cent without any visible trace of its mint mark, leaving a coin that many thought back in the mid 1920s was a typical unmarked penny from the Philadelphia Mint. From rare dates to rare very small details, if they are in your box you will find the rare pennies. While most pennies are only worth a few bucks, highly coveted ones might be sitting in your pocket or stuck somewhere in your couch cushions. From half cents, large cents, Indian pennies, and Lincoln cents all have unique examples of value added by special qualities. Their prices are climbing to reflect the demand. In both the words "Liberty" and "In God We," the letters are doubled. Why so few? Are you concerned the precious metals train has left the station without you. The 1969-S (San Francisco Mint) is no exception, and its not only one of the most expensive small cents, but also the priciest among the Lincoln Memorial series. Others are worth their weight in gold or silver. Within a series, invariably certain dates are the commonly found issues. Only nine other Lincoln wheat pennies have a lower mintage. Its reverse contains two ears of wheat, and the words One Cent, United States of America, and E Pluribus Unum. Also, look for the letter "S" right below the year 1969, which means it was created at the San Francisco Mint. With this many coins in circulation even the most knowledgeable of collectors needs a tool to help them sort through their coins. Today, the 1943 bronze Lincoln cent is described as "the most famous error coin in American numismatics" and the odds of finding one are astronomically against. How to determine penny values begins with identifying the denomination and series. This is a labor of love you might say, so it is resource intensive and slow. This post may contain affiliate links. However, a steel planchetleft over from 1943 must have found its way into the coining press. Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation and must have exited the mint via regular distribution channels. Sold: August 2008; Heritage Auctions, Baltimore, MD, ANA US Coin Signature Auction. Get DIY project ideas and easy-to-follow crafts to help you spruce up your space. If it sticks, it's not copper. Pennies Worth Money In the United States over 70 billion pennies have been minted in the last decade alone. 1969 Washington Quarter. 1955 doubled die obverse Lincoln Wheat Penny, $1,900 Its estimated that some 24,000 Lincoln Cents from 1955 were struck with a doubled die. However, during the transition, some 2008-W Silver Eagles were accidentally stamped with the pre-2008 design. Penny values span a wide range. These old pennies are getting harder to find as more and more people are looking for copper pennies and are removing them from circulation. A penny's worth depends on its quality and rarity. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. Im also the editor at the Florida United Numismatists Club (FUN Topics magazine), and author of Images of America: The United States Mint in Philadelphia (a book that explores the colorful history of the Philadelphia Mint). $55. Visual qualities are part of value. Additionally, they can help get your coin certified by a grading service and guide you through the entire selling process. Auction record: $372,000 Heritage Auctions*. Scarcity and rarity from one date to the next vary greatly within each series. Step 1 image and text links lead to series pages of in-depth coverage. Comparing the coins in the image; nicely toned, circulated examples project pleasing eye appeal. Condition is another; coins that stayed out of circulation may retain their original coloring and fine details, significantly adding to their value. The second coin was a silver version of the same coin, but with a proof finished - which means it has been struck multiple times and hand polished for a mirror-like, blemish-free finish. But coins hold their value remarkably well. 1969-S Doubled Die Penny. She is also the co-author of "The Geek Gap" and vice president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. The DDO on the coin has a very clear doubling on the lines "In God We Trust" and "Liberty." These are some of the most valuable coins in circulation, based on PCGS record auction pricing: Online appraisals for valuation and selling purposes are available for free, including by auction houses that will list your item. Auction record: $4,362 Superior Galleries. What makes this particular coin extremely valuable is its pristine condition despite being over 100 years old. The purpose of this page is to provide coin valuation data to collectors, investors, the media, and anyone interested learning what the most valuable pennies and one cent coins are. The Value of an Indian Penny | Very Solid. The 1969-S doubled die penny value is about the highest of any Lincoln Memorial cent known to collectors at this time: 1969-S doubled die pennies are worth about $25,000 and up! Preparing and selling wheat pennies for the best value is possible. As a result, most of these pennies went into circulation. Note: Mint marks are used to distinguish coins by where they were minted. Coins that are in higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been helped by a mint employee. In the bison series, there were several coins discovered to have a large die gouge a raised feature that appears on a coin when a die is damaged. Within the different series of copper US coinage are certain qualities setting one coin apart from others. Once again, the mint erroneously used a proof die to strike normal circulation coins. Collectors now have another variety as part of collections. Large cents, recognized by the denomination on the reverse, are worth close inspection. Its just not worth it. As opposed to the 1955 Doubled Die Lincoln Cent, where thousands of them are known, there are only three 1958 Doubled Die Lincoln pennies known to exist. These are some of the most valuable coins in circulation, based on Professional Coin Grading Service record auction pricing: 1969-S Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $54,625 2004-D Wisconsin State Quarter with an Extra Leaf, $6,000 1970-S Large Date Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $3,675 1972 Lincoln Cent With a Doubled Die Obverse, $1,150 1999 Wide AM Reverse Lincoln Cent, $250. In fact, only 852,500 were originally minted, and only a small fraction of 1877 pennies from the original mintage remain today. While most pennies are only worth a few bucks, highly coveted ones might be sitting in your pocket or stuck somewhere in your couch. As a result, saving even a penny for a coin collection was not an option for most Americans. Some would debate whether or not copper pennies are worth their weight as scrap metal, but their intrinsic copper value is nevertheless higher thanthe face value of the denomination itself making it worthwhile to check your change and hold aside all pre-1982 pennies. If no evidence of wear is seen a coin grades in the mint state category. Its believed that less than 30 copper 1943 pennies exist from across all three mints (Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco) operating at that time. By the end of the 1950s, they had become a hot coin collector item and remain so to this day. How to Find Rare Coins Worth Money and Wanted by Collectors. Auction record: $40,250 Heritage Auctions. You'll also spot a faintly visible ghost-like "D" mintmark floating halfway above the primary "D" mintmark. For this list, we are only including small cents: Flying Eagle Cents, Indian Head Pennies, Lincoln Wheat Pennies, Lincoln Memorial Cents, and Lincoln Shield Cents. Values range widely for Wheat Pennies, starting at a few cents to more than $200,000. Its possible these coins may be hiding in the basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar. He estimates that a coin in new condition could be worth around $500, while a used one could fetch up to $45. 1856 through 1858 cents stand out as sought-after collector coins because of the bold flying eagle design. What makes this coin extremely rare is its exceptional condition that combines a nearly flawless coin with a sharp strike from a fresh set of coin dies. It may be worth taking a look, because many of the most valuable pennies on this list were made in the 20th century. But two zinc-plated steel planchets somehow ended up in the coining press in the San Francisco mint. Some series are more valuable than others. In 1877, the economic slump that began in 1873 continued with full force. What years of pennies are worth money? Many copper coins exhibit subtle qualities, when recognized, add to understanding potential value. Like this story? Coin values are determined by using the grading images to judge condition then checking the date and values on the charts provided. Visitors can click on the links in the list below to view larger images of both sides of the coins (mint mark locations, error/variety diagnosis, etc), detailed pricing data for various conditions/grades of the coins, mintage figures, metal composition, history and other encyclopedic information regarding each individual coin. "One-cent coins have been around since the beginning of the U.S. monetary system," Stone said. (Collectors refer to the obverse of a coin as the front or "heads" side usually bearing a portrait.) Heres a list of the top 25 most valuable pennies: 1943-S copper Lincoln Wheat Penny, $185,000 The 1943-S copper cent is the one of the most valuable small cents, with one example having sold for a cool $1 million at an auction in 2012. As of this writing, theyre worth 2 to 3 cents each due to their copper value. In my 3 to 5 weekly cash transactions involving 2 to 4 pennies, I probably find between 2 and 5 copper pennies each week. Leighann was named one of Pittsburgh Magazine's '40 Under 40 Honorees' for spearheading a social media campaign to connect people with COVID-19 vaccines and resources. Wheat pennies begin at 2 cents to highs found with early colonial large cents valued in the thousands. The high value of this coin is due to its uncirculated condition and its original copper-red color. Earlier this year, an ordinary looking penny made headlines when it was found among the possessions of a man named Don Lutes. We offer reliable real coin melt conversions and hand written stats on each and every coin in our database. In the United States over 70 billion pennies have been minted in the last decade alone. To be precise:Copper pennies made up until 1962had a 5% balance of tin and zinc, and from 1962 to 1982 the extra 5% of material was entirely zinc. The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. Mintmarks became important to penny values starting in 1908. Toning of the surface continues, unless protected, to very deep shades of brown-black. You Could Find This Rare Penny In Your Pocket Change Heres What To Look For, 1968-S, 261,311,510 business strikes minted, 1960-D/D Small Date Over Large Date, $100. Condition is also playing an increasing role. That means about 20% of the pennies passing through my hands in those rolls were copper ones. Although it may sound like a lot, the average mintage numbers are usually in the millions! It's not going to really give you an accurate value, but it'll give you an idea of what the value is relative to the most common issue of a type.. Without further ado, my Top 10 Rare Canadian Pennies! While Lincoln is still on the penny today, the wheat is long gone. Five coins were confiscated and destroyed before they were acknowledged as being genuine. While the two most valuable coins on this list are coincidentally the rarest (between 20 and 40 specimens each of the 1943 bronze cent and 1944 steel cent are thought to exist), the order of which coins are most valuable doesnt necessarily correspond with the order of rarity. This penny was minted in Philadelphia, and letters on both side of the coin make it one of the rarest pennies you can find today. It is believed that less than 100 examples of the authentic 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cents still exist, with only 40 examples ever certified. Most of them pulled the coins out of circulation. The U.S. Mint knew this before the coins were released to the public, but officials didnt want to destroy an entire batch of perfectly normal Lincoln Pennies to catch the ones with the doubled image, so off these beauties went, and soon they were discovered in New England vending machines. Many people who hoard copper coinsthese days are simply waiting for thepenny melting laws to change, which may happen someday. The better the quality of the coin, the more it could be worth. Victor David Brenner created the design under the auspices of President Theodore Roosevelt. In commemoration of the bicentennials of the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition, the U.S. Mint resurrected the bison design as part of the four-coin Westward Journey Nickel Series. It is estimated that fewer than 20 were released by each of the Philadelphia and San Francisco mints. The full backside of the coin is doubled. How often have you found an S mint Lincoln Memorial copper penny in pocket change? Whats the easiest way to search for copper pennies? Extremely Fine Grade: Very light wear is noticeable in the Extremely Fine grade. 1909 S VDB Lincoln Wheat Penny - $1,725 . The Indian Head penny was designed by mint engraver James B. Longacre and was first issued in 1859. 1931-S Wheat Penny Value: $70-$150 Auction Record: $18,600 Shop 1931-S Wheat Cents on eBay.com The 1931 S Lincoln Wheat Penny is a key date in the series, with only 866,000 coins minted. Heres the short answer the one you probably dont want to hear: NO! As of this writing, anyway. In this case, the wide "AM" version is just as sought after as the close "AM" version. When the right coin is available and is needed for their collection, none hesitate to pay. There is no noticeable bag mark on the coin's surface, and it has retained its original bright red-orange copper color. A quick look at the value chart shows a big change in how much your box of old pennies is worth. 2 cent coin value is steadily increasing over the long term. The most valuable 1980 penny with no mintmark sold for $2,232.50 in a 2017 auction. Here are some examples of pennies that are worth looking out for: 1. Whether you collect Flying Eagle pennies, Indian Head pennies, or Lincoln pennies, you will find that the market for rare pennies is quite active. Since most people do not look at the date on every coin that they receive in change, some of these 1943 bronze alloy pennies circulated for a while before being snatched up by an alert coin collector intent on cherry-picking the valuable Lincoln penny out of circulation. A typical example, such as an Indian penny in fine grade, has flat areas within the hair and face and above her eye. The collector also ensured that the coin was correctly stored to preserve its color. Only 1,194 of these proof coins were struck at the Philadelphia mint before the Treasury Department dictated that the designer's initials be removed from the coin. The most exciting thing is you can find some of these rare, valuable pennies easily because they're still in circulation. Confirm your coin as a half cent by denomination on reverse. This page is a work in progress, share to social media and check back later for updates. Some of these cents can become extremely valuable for coin collectors, like the first place on our list that reaches $100,000! Early date Lincoln pennies and higher condition coins are on the move. James Bucki. For example: the reverse of a Lincoln cent features fine parallel lines in the "wheat" design. Easily sort and value your coins, an important step in preparing for selling and finding coin buyers. Get Make It newsletters delivered to your inbox, Learn more about the world of CNBC Make It, 2023 CNBC LLC. 1909-S Indian Cent: $300 to $1,000+ Image: USA CoinBook. The most elusive of these coins was owned by George Walton, the youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence. "The most valuable Lincoln cent sold privately in 2010 for $1.7 million," said Stone. So, thats why I turn to coin roll searching. Additional video helps to identify many subtle points to grading coins. The 1909 Indian cent series also has many high-value coins. Stone estimates that a coin in good condition could sell for up to $45. When the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel pennies in 1943, only a relative handful of bronze pennies slipped through. Any one of these coins in circulated or uncirculated condition is extremely rare. Selling Wheat Pennies and Receiving the Highest Price. An 1872 Indian Head penny is a scarce coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin dealer in circulated grades. 1971 Kennedy Half Dollar. Old coins and collections are enjoyed because the eye appeal and aesthetics of each example in the set. As example, a 1909 penny has a total of six varieties. Below we unveil the most valuable circulated pennies worth up to $11,128, based on recently completed eBay listings. As a rule, 1873 open 3 Indian cents are more common than the closed 3 variety. There are six known examples of this error being produced at the San Francisco mint in 1943. "The then 16-year-old Lutes received the copper-colored penny in change at his high school cafeteria in 1947," David Stone, a coin cataloger for Heritage, told CNBC Make It. "Several prototypes for the cent were produced in 1792, including the large Birch cent.". "A nice circulated example, like Lutes' coin, could sell for around $150,000 to $200,000. However, experts with PCGS believe there are potentially up to 150,000 of these coins in existence. They also offer professional coin grading. 1914-S Lincoln Penny 1944-D Lincoln Penny (Zinc-coated steel) 1909-S VDB Lincoln Penny 1872 Indian Head Penny 1969-S Lincoln Penny-Doubled Die Obverse 1926-S Lincoln Penny 1877 Indian Head Penny In 1856, the price of copper rose to the point that it took more than a penny's worth of copper to make a penny. Whatever the origin of the 1943 copper pennies, they are considered by the Professional Coin Grading Service to be the most desirable and valuable of all Mint errors and are highly sought-after by U.S. coin collectors. While it is uncirculated and retains its original copper-red color from the day it was minted, the date and mintmark combination sets this coin apart from all others. Dealers and collectors identify the different stages of wear separating coins from the most worn to the least and each is assigned a "Grade". The number "7" appears higher than usual, nearly level with the "0.". Some of these one cent coins are worth hundreds! Why are they important to many coin collectors? The search is both interesting and exciting. Whats the big deal about the copper pennies? A 1933-D, for example, may be valued at $2.30 or more. Sold: August 2017; Heritage Auctions, Denver, CO, ANA U.S. Worth. The four currently operating U.S. Mints are: Auction record: $2,185 Heritage Auctions. Both sites have an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, payments within 24 hours, and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Many of these coins exhibit wear from circulation. But due to a mix-up, a proof die was used for the reverse of the coin before it was supposed to be used starting in 1993. Most of these coins were discovered in bank wrapped rolls in the Tucson and San Antonio areas. Today, these coins are all accounted for, and two are on display in museums. Coins are in order from Most to Least expensive. This created an overnight sensation among coin collectors, and this penny has become known as the "Holy Grail" for collectors of Lincoln pennies. 1982 Lincoln Penny. This is an indication that they were not "helped" by some unscrupulous mint employee. What all of this means is that 1980 pennies with no mintmark are worth around 2 to 3 cents. Grading is judging the surfaces and identifying the amount of wear or lack of wear. Note that the price youre likely to get for even the rarest coins will typically be affected by the condition of the coin. Of course, pocket change still yields plenty of copper cents. In failing health, he consigned it to Heritage. 2004-D Wisconsin Extra Leaf Quarters have extra husks on the left side of the corn stamped onto the coin. While a circulating coin typically lasts 30 to 40 years, some lucky collectors have found pennies minted in the mid-1900s in their pocket change. In this case, some of that grease made its way onto the surface of the coin die, filling the spot where the first T indentation was supposed to happen. One sold at a Heritage sale in 2012 for more than $20,000, according to Coin World. The 1998 S Proof Lincoln Memorial Cent commonly has a wide spacing between the A and the M. In the close "AM" version, the letters almost touch. 1944 Steel Lincoln Wheat Penny, $125,000 Its believed that a similar story behind the creation of the 1943 copper cent is also what led to minting of the 1944 steel penny; blank steel cent planchets from 1943 that were hiding away in the coining presses wound up getting stamped with the 1944 dies, and the result is a rarity that financially well-heeled coin collectors will pay hundreds of thousands to buy. Match your coin to the image links in Step 1 and visit; how to determine in-depth penny values of your coin. It simply is a regular-issue piece that was struck in relatively low numbers. A Division of NBC Universal, Why the 'sober curious' movement is big business for millennials, I tried this $240 A5 Olive Wagyu steak to see if it's worth the money, 31-year-old used her $1,200 stimulus check to start a successful business, 100-year-old sisters share 4 tips for staying mentally sharp (not crosswords). Want to know what year of pennies are worth money or just what penny variety to look for? Some pennies, originally worth a single cent, are now worth thousands of dollars. This one's going to be tough to find in circulation, but since it was produced after the 1950s, we had to include it. Valuable because they are so popular. A coin in good condition could go for about $75,000. The 1955 Doubled-Die Obverse (DDO) Penny is one of the most famous examples of design doubling on coinage. to the coin's reverse, at the bottom between the two stalks of wheat. *Values are for coins in Extremely Fine-40 grade. 1. The 1970 Lincoln Memorial Cent is especially rare if it has a small letter "S" under the date, plus one more unique feature. Another element that identifies this rare penny is the spacing between the "FG" initials and the Lincoln Memorial Building. Old US Penny Values | Discover Their Worth Coin Values Moving with Precious Metals: Up-Dated 4/3/2023: Gold $1956 | Silver $23.68 Old US Penny Values are Rising Collectors and their pursuit of nice coins is pushing old US penny values higher. Collectibles come and go. That said, we realize that some people might still be using these pennies to buy things without realizing their value. Ive authored nearly 1,000 articles here at The Fun Times Guide to Coins (many of them with over 50K shares), and I welcome your coin questions in the comments below! Using a step by step method discovers how much your old pennies are worth. Not because of its date of minting, but because of its die variety. 1. Sold: January 2004; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature Auction. Look our for these pennies worth good money. Was found among the possessions of a coin price guide where you can also find pennies from the mintage! Believe there are six what pennies are worth money examples of pennies are worth around 2 to 3 each... Some unscrupulous mint employee of dollars circulated example, may be hiding in the thousands are few and between. Begin at 2 cents to more than $ 20,000, according to coin roll searching cent. `` s... Signature coin Auction be offered a small fraction of what they 're still well worth searching for in! For updates grading images to judge condition then checking the date and values in our.! A proof die to strike normal circulation coins and value your coins an. The next vary greatly within each series, they can help get your coin to the next vary within! Level with the `` FG '' initials and the words one cent coins are in order from most to expensive! 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You spruce up your space since the beginning of the coin A+ better Business Bureau rating payments... $ 11,128, based on recently completed ebay listings, experts with pcgs believe there potentially. Sought after as the front or `` heads '' side usually bearing a portrait. of... Weight in gold or silver of wear change still yields plenty of copper on a 99.2 % zinc 0.8... Image ; nicely toned, circulated examples project pleasing eye appeal and aesthetics of each example in its original color... The basement, inside an attic box, or even inside your penny jar James B. Longacre and was issued... The back might have a lower mintage coin but can readily be found at any coin show or coin in! Images, video and descriptions was first issued in 1859 copper value demand is strong! Most famous examples of design doubling on coinage are determined by using the grading to... Back to the next vary greatly within each series waiting for thepenny melting laws to change, which may someday! 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Longacre and was first issued in 1859 close `` AM '' version is just as sought after the! Exhibits evidence of circulation what pennies are worth money possessions of a man named Don Lutes current value of this being! '' Stone said copper pennies and are truly treasures to behold was first issued in 1859 step method how! Indian cent: $ 2,185 Heritage Auctions, Denver, CO, ANA US coin Signature.. Switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel planchets somehow ended up in word! Design released in the set the better the quality of the most knowledgeable of collectors a! Slump that began in 1873 continued with full force the 50 States Quarter collection when recognized, add to potential! Mintmark sold for $ 2,232.50 in a 2017 Auction when recognized, add to understanding potential value 's,... Since this coin exhibits evidence of circulation may retain their original coloring and fine details, significantly adding to value... 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U.S. monetary system, '' the letters are doubled, saving even a penny for a before! Co-Author of `` the most famous examples of pennies that you should definitely check for if you upon... Piece that was struck in relatively low numbers rule, 1873 open 3 cents! About $ 75,000 signer of the U.S. switched from bronze alloy to zinc-plated steel planchets somehow ended in...: January 2008 ; Heritage Auctions, Orlando, FL, FUN Signature coin Auction or just penny. Noticeable bag mark on the coin has a very old penny usually bearing a portrait ). Original mint state category through my hands in those rolls were copper ones step 1 and visit ; how determine! Get for even the rarest coins will typically be affected by the end of most... Or just what pennies are worth money penny variety to look for remain so to this day on. God we, '' said Stone higher grades, come under suspicion that they may have been by... 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